POWYS Citizens Advice Bureau is warning people to avoid door-to-door sellers offering cut-price electricity for their pre-payment meters after reports of a scam where people end up paying twice.
The bureau is concerned that some pre-payment meter customers are accepting doorstep offers of cut-price electricity credit only to have to pay the full price when the fraud is detected later on.
The added fear is that this bogus offer, which is already catching out many households, may become more appealing as people’s energy costs rise through heating their homes during the winter.
Powys Citizens Advice Bureau manager, Muriel Ryan, said: “These offers must seem very attractive to people already struggling with household budgets and rising fuel bills, but as with all ‘too good to be true’ offers this one will cost you more in the long run.
“We urge people not to be tempted and forced to pay twice, but to use a legitimate and trusted supplier like the Post Office or one offering PayPoint or PayZone, not a door-to-door seller. If you have bought credit from someone who you now think may have been bogus then we would recommend reporting it to the energy company as soon as possible as they have said they will be sympathetic to those duped, or you can call Consumer Direct on 08454040506.”
For more information contact Powys Citizens Advice Telephone Advice line on 0845 601 8421 on Tuesday and Wednesday between 10am and 2.30pm or Advice line Cymru on 0844 477 2020 on Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm.